Lampholder



Aug- 11, 1954 s. A. MASON 3,144,289

Stuart A. Mason ATTORNEY S. A` MASON Aug. 11, 1964 LAMPHOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1962 sez/3e 95 5|02 so) H24 Fig. 8.

United States Patent O 3,144,289 LAMPE-HOLDER Stuart A. Mason, Shelton, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jene 5, 1962, Ser. No. 200,252 lll Claims. (Cl. 339-56) The present invention relates to wiring devices and more particularly to holders for supporting an elongated lamp.

Such a lamp is ordinarily supported in a desired location by means of a suitably mounted lampholder adjacent each end of the lamp. Each lampholder normally is provided with a portion for engaging the adjacent lamp end portion and, consequently, for holding the lamp against dislocation laterally of its longitudinal axis and also for energizing the lamp through terminals which are attached to each end of the lamp and which are engaged by terminals located in the lamp engaging portion of the respective lampholders. Further, the lamp engaging portion of either or both lampholders normally is responsive to suitably included spring means to urge the lamp resiliently toward the other lampholder and yet be resiliently deectable from its engaged relation with the lamp. Thus, even though the lamp is held in place by positive forces, it can be removed readily for replacement or other purposes.

Where the lamp is a relatively high heat generator, heat transferred to the spring means can result in deterioration of its resilient character, for example through annealing effects. As an illustration, quartz infrared and quartz iodide lamps commonly present this problem, that is, they do so if they are specifically provided with end terminals rather than protruding end leads of considerable length, for support and electrical engagement with lampholders of the general type described. More specifically, quartz lamps commonly are power rated at 500, 1,000 or 1600 or 2350 or more watts and further can have a lamp surface operating temperature at least as high as 2500 F. and a lamp end operating temperature at least as high as 650 F. On these facts alone, it is clear that excessive heat transfer from a quartz lamp to supporting lampholders poses a real and significant problem. Further information on the structure and operational nature of quartz lamps can be obtained by reference to earlier patents or other publications.

If a lampholder is to support a quartz or other high heat generating lamp and if it is to be provided with a resiliently deflectable lamp engaging portion, and the latter condition desirably is the case for facility in lamp installation and removal and for other economy reasons, it is clear that the lampholder spring means, which are used to provide for the resilient deflection of the lamp engaging portion of the lampholder, should be suitably arranged both to receive a relative minimum of lamp generated heat and to function mechanically in an efficient and reliable manner. In any event, it is noteworthy that where the lampholder is arranged to have utility through its mechanical and heat disposition efficiency in supporting hot lamps it can also have utility through its mechanical eiciency alone in supporting cooler lamps which normally do not present an excessive heat transfer problem.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel lampholder having eiciently arranged spring means for effecting resilient end support of an elongated lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel lampholder having eiciently arranged spring means for effecting resilient end support of an elongated relatively high heat generating lamp.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel lampholder wherein spring means engage a pivotally supported elongated terminal so as to urge the latter resiliently into end supporting engagement with a lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel lampholder as described in the preceding object, wherein the terminal pivot axis is located such that gravitational force additionally can urge the terminal into its engagement with the lamp if the lampholder is appropriately mounted.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel lampholder wherein spring means engage a pivotally supported elongated terminal so as to urge the latter resiliently into end supporting engagement with a lamp and wherein the spring means form an energy delivery path to the lamp from means efficiently engaging and conductively relating a power wire to the spring means.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel lampholder wherein spring means engage a pivotally supported elongated terminal so as to urge the latter resiliently into end supporting engagement with a larnp, and wherein the spring means are provided in leaf form and are located in an elongated insulative and heat resistive housing which can be mounted on a panel or other member and wherein the terminal has its pivotally supported portion in the housing and has a generally insulatively protected portion extending outwardly from the housing for resilient engagement with the lamp.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel lampholder as described in the preceding object, wherein the lampholder housing is mounted on one side of the panel and wherein the insulated outwardly extending terminal portion projects through the panel for resiliently engaging the lamp adjacent the side of the panel opposite the one panel side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel lampholder as described in the preceding object, wherein a single fastener eiciently secures the leaf spring means, the wire engaging means and the pivotally supported terminal portion in respective operative positions in the lampholder.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken along with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is an elevational view showing an elongated lamp supported by a pair of mounted lampholders Which are constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the lampholders shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational View of the lampholder shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end View of the lampholder shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the lampholder shown in FIGURE 2, with certain portions thereof being removed.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinally sectioned View of the lampholder as taken along the reference line VI-VI of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectioned view of the lampholder of FIGURE 2 taken along the'reference line VII-VII of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of another lampholder constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, with certain portions thereof being removed.

In accordance with the broad principles of the invention, a lampholder comprises an insulative housing in which means are provided for resiliently supporting an elongated lamp engaging terminal in pivotal relation with the housing. Means including an end portion of the terminal are provided for electrically and mechanically engaging a lamp end portion. The terminal end portion is located remotely from the springy means, which provides resilient character for the support of the terminal and in turn for the support of the lamp, so as particularly to adapt the lampholder for use with high heat generating lamps although its general usage is not so limited.

More specifically, in FIGURE 1 there is shown an elongated lamp supported by a pair of lampholders 12 which are mounted in a manner described more fully hereinafter. The lamp 10 can be a quartz lamp of the kind previously described, although other types of lamps can be supported by the lampholders 12. In this instance, the lamp 10 is supported beneath a mounting panel 14 by a pair of lamp supporting members 16, in this instance respectively extending downwardly from respective housings 18 of the lampholders 12. Each lampholder housing 18 is preferably supported above the panel 14 so as to obtain thermal separation between the housings 18 and the lamp 10, especially where the lamp 10 is a high heat generator. As an example, one application for the depicted mounting arrangement of FIGURE 1 would be in an electric oven.

Further, the mounting scheme of FIGURE 1 also generally proves advantageous in oven or other applications where there are no side panels or members to provide side support for the lampholders 12. In any event, although it is preferred to mount the lampholders 12 as shown in FIGURE l in order to obtain the advantages described, the invention generally is not so limited.

As observed in FIGURES 2-7, the housing 18 of each lampholder 12 preferably comprises an insulative base 20 and an insulative cover 22 although in other cases it may be unitary in form. It is desirable that the material used to form the base 2t) and the cover 22 be highly heat resistant where the lampholder 12 is to be used with hot lamps. An example of such a material is porcelain.

Means including an elongated shaft 26 pivotally support an elongated generally planar lamp energizing terminal 24 relative to the housing 18. In this instance, the pivot shaft 26 is splined as indicated by the reference character 28 (FIG. 7) for fixed engagement with the terminal 24 laterally through an opening 30 therein. Each end portion 32 of the pivot shaft 26 is supported in a pivot notch 34 (FIG. 5) located in the housing base 20. The terminal opening 30 is located to one side of the center of gravity of the terminal 24 so that, when the lampholder 12 is mounted on a horizontal panel, gravitational force urges the terminal 24 to pivot toward a supported lamp, in the case of FIG. 6 in the counterclockwise direction. Further, means including an elongated plate 36 having arms 38 located over and engaging the pivot shaft end portions 32, are provided for retaining the pivot shaft 26 in its pivot station. A detent portion 40 (FIG. 6) of the plate 36 provides ribbed strength therefor and aids in indexing the plate 36 in proper position for subsequent final assembly as hereinafter described.

The supporting means for the terminal 24 further include resilient spring means 42 which are suitably supported in the housing 18 so as to engage the terminal 24 and urge it pivotally (in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6) about the housing notches 34 with the pivot shaft 26 as a support. In this example, the spring means 42 are in leaf form and include one or more electrically conductive spring strips 44, but, if the properties of the selected material so require, preferably include two or more of the spring strips 44 in layered relation for the purpose of maximizing resiliency of the spring means 42 while minimizing the susceptibility of the spring means 42 to permanent deformation. The latter spring character is thus obtained for the well known reason that the portion of spring bending force which would otherwise cause permanent spring deformation is reactively offset by relative sliding movement of the various spring strips 44. The material of the spring strips 44 can be i in the form of stainless steel but it can be in other well known forms, such as an alloy of beryllium and copper.

The spring strips 44 are generally aligned with each other and located and secured between elongated base barriers and against the shaft retaining plate 36 for resilient bending movement. Thus, an end portion 46 of the leaf spring means 42 is disposed for engagement with an elongated terminal arm 48 adjacent a portion 5t) thereof outwardly of the pivot shaft 26. It follows that the distance of the terminal arm portion S0 from the pivot shaft 26 coupled with the reactionary force of the spring means 42 substantially determines the force moment applied to the terminal 24 by the spring means 42 (in the counterclockwise direction in this instance).

The terminal 24 is also provided with an elongated arm S2 which in turn is provided with a portion 54, including a contact tip 55, adjacent its remote end for electrical engagement with an end contact or terminal (not shown) of a supported lamp. The force of the latter engagement depends, of course, primarily on the length of the terminal arm 52, and the force moment applied by the spring means 42. In this instance, the terminal arm 52 projects through an opening 56 in the housing base 20 and extends considerably outwardly of the base 20 for engagement with the lamp.

The lamp supporting member 16, which includes the terminal 24, provides mechanical support for an adjacent lamp end portion (not shown). Thus, since the terminal arm 24 extends outwardly of the housing base 2t), a pair of similar insulative cover parts 5S and 60 are located on opposite sides of the terminal arm 24 S0 as generally to provide an insulative covering for the latter. Again, if the lampholder 12 is expected to be used with hot lamps, the terminal cover parts 58 and 6l) can be formed from a heat-resistant material such as porcelain.

As viewed in FIG. 7, the cover part 60 is provided with projections 62 which extend through openings 64 in the terminal arm 24 for engagement with the cover part 58 in recesses 66 thereof. Accordingly, sliding movement of the terminal cover parts 58 and 60 and the terminal arm 24 relative to each other, is prevented. To hold the cover parts 58 and 60 against laterally directed separation, fastening means 68 (FIG. 4), such as a bolt and a nut, can be employed.

The end portion 70 of the assembled terminal cover parts 58 and 60 is provided with a recess 72 (FIG. 4) which is characterized with a cross section suitable for physically receiving the end portion of a lamp of the type intended to be end supported by the lampholder or lampholders 12. As observed in FIG. 4, the cross section of the recess 72 is here generally in I-form. When the end portions of a lamp are matingly inserted in opposed recesses 72 of spaced lampholders 12, as in FIG. 1, it is clear that the lamp is then held against separation from the lampholder 12 laterally of the lamp longitudinal direction because of the inwardly directed resilient force imposed on the lamp by either or both of lamp supporting members 16. In addition, an end facing terminal (not shown) of the lamp is electrically engaged by the lampholder terminal end portion 54 or contact tips 55 as previously described. As already implied, one of the lampholders 12 shown in FIG. 1 can provide the necessary rcsilient action and deliection if the other one is formed with a fixed lamp supporting arm 16 (not shown).

It is noted that means are provided for limiting resilient pivotal movement of the lamp supporting member 16 in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise dircction. Thus, counterclockwise movement of the lamp supporting member 16 is limited by engagement of the terminal arm 48 with base portion 74 (FIG. 6) and clockwise movement is limited by engagement of terminal stud 76 with base portion '78. Further, if spacing so requires, the terminal cover parts 58 and 60 are provided with cutout portions 80 for accommodation of the terminal pivot shaft 26.

In completion of the description of the lampholder 12, there are provided means for energizing a lamp through the terminal 24, and, specifically in this case, means are provided for engaging a power wire (not shown) with the spring means 42. Thus, an electrically conductive plate 82 is located over the outermost spring strip 44 and a bolt 84, threadedly engaged with the plate 82, and a wire clamping nut 86 are employed for holding an inserted wire against the plate S2. If necessary, openings 88 in the spring strips 44 and the pivot shaft plate 36 and a recess 90 in the base 2t) can be provided for receipt of the shaft end 4of the bolt 84.

Once the lamp supporting member 16, the pivot shaft plate 36, the spring means 42 and the Wire engaging means are assembled as described, final assembly of the lampholder 12 can be accomplished by securing the vhousing cover 22 against the housing base 2t). For this purpose, a bolt 92 (FlG. 6) is provided, and it is inserted through the base in a relatively deep and protective recess 94 located therein. The bolt 92 is extended through aligned openings 96 in the pivot shaft plate 35 and the spring strips 44 and is threadedly engaged with the Wire engaging plate 82 to clamp Ithe latter iirmly against the spring strips 44 which, in turn, clamp the pivot shaft plate 36 against the housing base 2t) to hold the pivot shaft 26 against dislocation. The housing cover 22 is placed over the base 20 and an insulative cap 9S is engaged with the end of the bolt 92 to clamp the housing cover 22 and base 20 together. The lampholder 12 is then in finished form, and it can be mounted on a panel or other supporting member, for example the panel 14 of FIGURE l, through the use of securing means 1G53 extended through respective openings 102 in 4the housing base 20.

In FIGURE 8, there is shown another embodiment of the invention in the form of a lampholder M4. The lampholder 104 is substantially similar to the lampholder 12, but differs therefrom in some respects. For example, the shape of a housing base 106, a housing cover 108, a terminal pivot shaft 111i, and a shaft retaining plate 112 differ from the shape and size of respectively similar elements in the lampholder 12. In addition, mounting openings 114 in the housing base 1% are located along a lateral reference line through the base 1% rather than along la longitudinal reference line as in the case of the housing base 24B.

In summary, it is noted that heat transfer to the spring means 44 from a supported lamp is limited by the fact that the lamp engaging terminal portion 54, as a deterrent to heat conduction, is located remotely from the spring engaging terminal portion Si), that is, these portions are located at opposite ends of terminal moment arms 48 and 52 which extend radially outwardly of the pivot shaft 26 or 11d. Further, if the lamp supporting member 16 and its included terminal arm 24 extend outwardly of the base as in the described examples, the lamp as a heat generator is located outwardly of the base side which is opposite the base side on which the spring means 42 are located. Heat transfer by radiation is thereby inhibited. In addition, if the lampholder 12 or 104 is used as shown in FIG. l, the panel 14 provides additional heat insulative effect. In any case, the invention provides, among other advantages, reliability in the operational nature of the spring means 42 since its resilient character can normally be retained in operation Without loss as a result of annealing.

In the foregoing description, several embodiments have been described to point out the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is desired that the invention be not limited to the embodiments described, but rather that it be accorded an interpretation consistent with the scope and spirit of its broad principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp CTI and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to -said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by lsaid pivot support means Within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of vsaid lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, and means for conductively relating a power Wire to said spring means.

2. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated -arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, said terminal pivot portion being located to one side of the center of gravity of said terminal so that gravitational force when said housing is mounted horizontally additionally urges said lamp supporting member into engagement with said lamp as described, and means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means.

3. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprisingan elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing yand having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover over the sides of the iirst mentioned terminal arm, suitably supported leaf spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said `lamp Within its longitudinal dimension parallel to said `housing side, and means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means.

4. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, one end portion of suitably supported leaf spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means, said conductive means including an elongated plate located against the other end portion of said leaf spring means, said conductive means also including a bolt and clamping nut for holding an inserted wire against said plate, and a fastener engaging said plate so as to hold said other end portion of said leaf spring means against an adjacent portion of said housing.

5. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the rst mentioned terminal arm, one end portion of suitably supported leaf spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting mem ber cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means, said housing including an elongated base forming said one housing side and serving as a support for said terminal pivot means and the other end portion of said leaf spring means on its side opposite said one housing side, said housing also including an elongated cover for placement over said base opposite side, and a single fastener engaging a plate to hold said other end portion of said leaf spring means against said base opposite side and further holding said housing cover in secured relation with said housing base.

6. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, one end portion of suitably supported leaf spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means, said terminal pivot means including an elongated shaft extending laterally through an opening in said terminal pivot portion and having its opposite ends supported in respective notches in said housing, an elongated plate having respective arms adjacent one end portion thereof holding said shaft ends in said notches for pivotal movement relative thereto, the other end portion of said plate being located against an adjacent portion of said housing, the other end portion of said leaf spring means being located against said other plate end portion, said conductive means including another elongated plate located against the other end portion of said leaf spring means, and a fastener engaging said other plate so as to hold said other end portion of said leaf spring means and the first mentioned plate against said adjacent housing portion,

7. A wiring device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said housing includes an elongated base forming said one housing side and an elongated cover for placement over the side of said housing base opposite said one housing side, said fastener also holding said housing cover in secured relation with said housing base.

8. A Wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, and means for conductively relating a power wire to said spring means, said lamp supporting member cover including a pair of insulative members located on opposite sides of the rst mentioned terminal arm, means for securing said insulative members together and against movement relative to the rst mentioned terminal arm, said cover outer end portion including an outwardly facing recess between said insulative members for mating and supporting reception of said lamp end and for conductive engagement of said terminal arm end portion with said lamp contact.

9. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an elongated electrically insulative housing, means for pivotally supporting an elongated lamp supporting member relative to said housing, said lamp supporting member including a generally planar conductive terminal having an elongated arm extending outwardly of one side of said housing and having an end portion for electrical engagement with a contact of said lamp, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of its outwardly extending arm being supported by said pivot support means within said housing, said terminal having another elongated arm extending from said terminal pivot portion within said housing, said lamp supporting member also including an insulative cover located over the sides of the first mentioned terminal arm, spring means engaging said other terminal arm for resiliently urging an outer end portion of said lamp supporting member cover pivotally into engagement with an end of said lamp so as to support said lamp with its longitudinal dimension parallel to said housing side, and means for conductively relating a power Wire to said terminal.

10. A wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an insulative housing, means for supporting said lamp relative to said housing, and a generally planar conductive terminal having a first elongated arm extending in one direction, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of said first terminal arm being pivotally supported relative to said housing by suitable means s0 that an end portion of said first terminal arm is pivotable into and out of engagement with an end contact of said lamp, said terminal having another elongated arm extending in another direction from said terminal pivot portion, and suitably supported spring means engaging an end portion of said other terminal arm to urge resiliently said rst terminal end portion into engagement with said lamp contact.

11. A Wiring device for supporting an elongated lamp and the like, said wiring device comprising an insulative housing, means for supporting said lamp relative to said housing, and a generally planar conductive terminal having a rst elongated arm extending in one direction, a portion of said terminal adjacent the inner end of said rst terminal arm being pivotally supported relative t0 said housing by suitable means so that an end portion of said trst terminal arm is pivotable into and out of engagement with an end contact of said lamp, said terminal having another elongated arm extending in another direction from said terminal pivot portion, suitably supported spring means engaging an end portion of said other terminal arm to urge resiliently said first terminal end portion into engagement with said lamp contact, and means for conductively relating a power Wire to said terminal.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,459,647 Hodgkins Jan. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 856,531 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1960 1,129,234 Germany May 10, 1962 

1. A WIRING DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AN ELONGATED LAMP AND THE LIKE, SAID WIRING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ELECTRICALLY INSULATIVE HOUSING, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING AN ELONGATED LAMP SUPPORTING MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING, SAID LAMP SUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A GENERALLY PLANAR CONDUCTIVE TERMINAL HAVING AN ELONGATED ARM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF ONE SIDE OF SAID HOUSING AND HAVING AN END PORTION FOR ELECTRICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH A CONTACT OF SAID LAMP, A PORTION OF SAID TERMINAL ADJACENT THE INNER END OF ITS OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARM BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID PIVOT SUPPORT MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID TERMINAL HAVING ANOTHER ELONGATED ARM EXTENDING FROM SAID TERMINAL PIVOT PORTION WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID LAMP SUPPORTING MEMBER ALSO INCLUDING AN INSULATIVE COVER LOCATED OVER THE SIDES OF THE FIRST MENTIONED TERMINAL ARM, SPRING MEANS ENGAGING SAID OTHER TERMINAL ARM FOR RESILIENTLY URGING AN OUTER END PORTION OF SAID LAMP SUPPORTING MEMBER COVER PIVOTALLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH AN END OF SAID LAMP SO AS TO SUPPORT SAID LAMP WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION PARALLEL TO SAID HOUSING SIDE, AND MEANS FOR CONDUCTIVELY RELATING A POWER WIRE TO SAID SPRING MEANS. 